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. (Application filed Oct. 20, 1898.)

(No Model.)

FIG. 2.

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UNITED STATES PATENT HENRY M. REICI-IENBACH, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE REICHENBACH, MOVEY & I/VILL COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

MACHINE FOR COATING PAPER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 619,617, dated February 14, 1899. Application filed October 20, 1898. Serial No. 694,136. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY M. REIOHEN- BACH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rochester, New York, have invented certain Improvements in Machines for Coating Paper, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in machines for coating paper, designed more particularly for the production of sensitive papers for photographic use, but capable of use for many other purposes.

My improvements are fully described and illustrated in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, the novel features thereof being specified in the claims annexed to the said specification.

My improved paper-coating machine is represented in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a central longitudinal section, the framework being omitted. Fig. 2 is a partial perspective.

Experience with paper-coating machinery demonstrates that it is desirable to subject the coated paper to as little tension or longitudinal strain as possible until it becomes set, as thereby the tendency to form wrinkles or flutes in it is diminished or overcome. This is particularly the case where, as in manufacturing photographic papers, it is necessary to secure the greatest possible uniformity of the coating. In such operations as usually practiced the strain of feeding the paper produces wrinkles or flutes which extend in various directions alongor across the paper, forming hollows into which the fluid coatings run and produce irregularities in the thickness. In order, therefore, to advance the coated paper whileunder as little tension or strain as possible, I construct my improved machine so that the paper is fed forward by its own gravity while on its way from the coating mechanism to the looping-slat of the hang-up. For this purpose I locate the coating mechanism and a carrying-roller above it at an elevation relative to the hang-up so that the paper descending from the carrying-roller overbalances the paper traveling up from the coating mechanism and draws it along until delivered to the looping-slat. The mechaning paper along and with such a gentle continuous strain that it remains practically smooth and flat and the coatings are more regular and uniform.

In the accompanying drawings, A represents the stock-roll of uncoated paper or fabric; B B, the pulling-rollers, which unwind the fabric; C, a guide-roller; D, a driven feeding-roller which delivers the fabric to the coating-roller E; F, the idle carrying-roller, and G the looping-slat of the hang-up H.

The framework of the machine is constructed in any usual or preferred way in such manner as to support the various parts in the proper operative positions.

One of the pulling-rollers B B is driven, and suitable means are employed for pressing one roller against the other, so as to afford the requisite grip on the paper. The guide-roller C is supported in any suitable journals, being arranged to revolve freely when the fabric moves over it.

D is a driven roller which delivers the fabric to the partially-submerged coating-roller E. It may be driven in any suitable way, and it may be placed so near the coating-roller as to press the paper against it and so as to assist in driving the coating-roller by friction.

I is the trough for holding the liquid coating material. It is usually provided with a heating device.

F is the upper idle non-driven carryingroller, over which the fabric passes and which is revolved by it. This roller is preferably mounted so as to turn as freely as possible on centers, as indicated at L in Fig. 2, or in ball-bearings or other suitable antifriction devices. It is preferably made hollow to secure lightness and also accurately balanced.

J represents the looping-chain of any ordinary hang-up, and G one of the looping-slats. The other slats G G G rest upon suitable tracks on each side of the pendent loops K, being shifted along as fast as the loops are hung up by any suitable machinery.

It will be observed that the length of the fabric P, ascending from the coating-roller to the idle roller, is less than that of the descending portion of the fabric P. The consequence is that the weight of the descending fabric is greater than that of the ascending fabric and that the fabric is thus kept continuously in motion between the coating-roller and the hang-up under an equable and gentle strain which causes the fabric to travel along without becoming furrowed or wrinkled, thereby securing the greatest uniformity in the coating.

Power may be applied in any suitable way to operate the driven roller B and the roller D, which is preferably made to run with a surface speed slightly greater than that of the pulling-rollers. This roller D is also preferably made slightly smaller in diameter from a point a short distance inside the edges of the fabric, as indicated at M, Fig. 2, to avoid smearing from the coating material along the edges of the paper.

The operation of the hang-up is too well known to need particular description. The chains J run around suitable pulleys and carry the looping-slats G, which are carried up and deposited on the tracks. Any ordinary or suitable mechanism may be employed to shift the slats along the tracks. It will, however, be understood that my improved gravity-feed may be employed in connection with other types of hang-ups, such as a series of stationary slats or a series of continuously or intermittently revolving rollers. It will also be understood that any suitable coating mechanism may be employed and that the coating-roller, if used, maybe driven and that it may act by transferring the coating material to another roller, which applies it to the fabric. The coating-roller and the roller D may be mounted in a swinging frame for convenience of access to the trough.

My improved machine may be used for coating paper, cloth, or other fabric with gelatinous or other coatings.

ley by which the roller D is driven.

I claim- 1. The combination, in a fabric-coating machine, of a suitable hang-up, suitable ele- N is a belt and pulvated coating mechanism, the intermediate idle carrying-roller, and suitable mechanism for unwinding the uncoated fabric, whereby the excess of weight of the coated fabric on the descending side is suiiicient to keep the fabric in motion between the coating mechanism and the hang-up, as and for the purposes set forth. a

2. The combination in a fabric-coating machine, of a suitable hang-up, suitable elevated coating mechanism, the intermediate idle carrying-roller, suitable mechanism for unwinding the uncoated fabric and feeding it to the coating mechanism, whereby the excess of weight of the coated fabric on the descending side is suificient to keep the fabric in motion between the coating mechanism and the hang-u p, as and for the purposes set forth.

3. The herein-described fabric-coating machine, provided witha coated-fabric-delivery mechanism operated by the weight of the coated fabric, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. The combination in a fabric-coating machine, of a hang-up provided with a traveling looping and suspending slat, suitable elevated coating mechanism, the intermediate idle carrying-roller, and suitable mechanism for unwinding the uncoated fabric, whereby the excess of weight of the coated fabric on the descending side is suficient to keep the fabric in motion between the coating mechanism and the looping-slat, as and for the purposes set forth.

5. The combination in a fabric-coating machine, of a suitable hang-up, the partiallysubmerged coating-roller and its trough, the intermediate idle carrying-roller, and suitable mechanism for unwinding the uncoated fabric, whereby the excess of weight of the coated fabric on the descending side is sufficient to keep the fabric in motion between the coating mechanism and the hang-up, as and for the purposes set forth.

HENRY M. REIOHENBACI-I.

WVitnesses:

GEO. B. SELDEN, O. G. CRANNELL. 

